Pro project Water conservation in action

Water conservation in action

Elementary school's "Smartville Garden" demonstrates and educates

Project by Fockele Garden Company

A pump house with a green roof is a visible statement of the theme of the garden.

The stormwater system at Smartville Garden demonstrates how rainwater falling on a garden can be collected, stored and used by the garden itself. Through research and expertise, we designed and built a versatile and interesting water collection system that provides maximum teaching and learning opportunities. Downspouts carry water from the roof to seven storage tanks- four below ground and three above. Their total capacity of 10,000 gallons is more than enough to supply the entire garden. No municipal water is used. Swales, primary and secondary basins, a bog, a green roof, and overflow outlets provide for surface infiltration.

The mature plantings now conceal most of the stormwater management system, but every element can be accessed for teaching how conservation of water works.

The stormwater system is simple to operate and a valuable teaching tool. The roof water is directed into above-ground tanks. When the tanks are full, they overflow into a rock-lined swale, which slows the stormwater, encourages percolation, and leads the excess to infiltration basins. The ponds allow large volumes of water to percolate into the soil. The ponds and swales are planted with Iris, Bald Cypress, Carex, and other plants that enjoy getting their feet wet.

In 2017, this old school was torn down to build a larger school. Unfortunately, the Smartville Garden was demolished.